Have you ever paused to think about the silent stories our furniture holds? The cozy chair by the fireplace or the sturdy table where families gather for meals, each piece resonates with a unique vibe, aiming to make spaces feel more like home. Yet, amidst the usual designs that prioritize comfort and warmth, there lies a collection that stands out, daring to blend the rough with the refined – hand-carved DOL furniture. This series captures the essence of dark, unpolished volcanic rocks, yet surprisingly, it offers comfort, stability, and a raw charm.
Imagine sitting on a chair that whispers tales of fiery eruptions and molten lava, or placing your coffee mug on a table that mimics the rugged surface of a volcanic stone. This is more than just furniture. It’s a piece of Earth’s fiery heart, crafted into forms that serve our daily lives. The DOL collection, born from the creative minds at (ae) offices, is a testament to the beauty of contrasts. It’s about finding balance and beauty in the unexpected, taking inspiration from the powerful and often destructive nature of volcanoes.
Why do we find such allure in the juxtaposition of nature’s raw power with the human need for utility and comfort? Volcanoes, with their terrifying magnificence, reshape landscapes and lives. Their eruptions are a force of destruction, yet they also birth new land, new beginnings. This duality is at the heart of the DOL furniture series. It’s a celebration of the natural beauty and resilience found in the aftermath of chaos, embodying the essence of black volcanic stones from Jeju Island in South Korea.
But here’s the twist: instead of hardened lava, the furniture is sculpted from the outer bark of the cork oak tree. Cork, with its lightweight, impact-absorbing, and insulating qualities, becomes the medium through which this raw and uneven imagery is brought to life. Each piece, handcrafted and unique, carries the soul of volcanic rock but with a softness that invites touch and use.
Now, imagine the surprise and curiosity sparked by sitting on a piece that looks like it could scratch, only to find it soft and welcoming. It’s an intriguing mind game, playing with our perceptions of materials and forms. The craftsmanship involved in creating such pieces – from the hand-cut cork to the wooden profiles that provide structure, all finished with layers of wood oil and waxes – adds depth and character, making each item a story in itself.
Sustainability adds another layer to the narrative. The renewal process of cork bark, recyclable and eco-friendly, mirrors the cycle of destruction and creation inherent to volcanoes. It’s a poetic nod to the cyclical nature of life and a reminder of our place within the broader ecosystem.
As these pieces made their debut, first at Collectible Brussels in 2024, they invited onlookers to reconsider their relationship with the natural world and the objects that populate their spaces. The DOL collection is more than furniture; it’s a dialogue between the earth’s elemental forces and our human ingenuity, a fusion of the wild and the domesticated.
So, what do you think? Can a piece of furniture reshape our perception of beauty and function? In embracing the rugged, unpolished aesthetics of volcanic rocks, (ae) offices challenge us to see the beauty in the raw, the unrefined. It’s a bold statement in a world that often seeks smoothness and perfection. Maybe it’s time we let a bit more of the natural world into our homes, blurring the lines between inside and out, between comfort and the raw beauty of nature. How would you feel about bringing a piece of a volcano into your living space? If yes, consider to check Unique Sphere rom Volacnic Rock.
